Improvement in tucking attachments for sewing-machines



E. BoulL'LoN. Tucker Aachmen'ts for Sewing-Machines. 138,730.

Patented Mag/13,1873.

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WIT/umass: w @/7 UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE. y

EUG-ENE BOUILLON, on NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TUCKING ATTACHMENT'S FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,730, dated May 13, 1873 vapplication tiled October 23, 1872.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE BOUILLON, of the city of New Orleans, parish of Orleans, State ofLouisiana, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Tucking Device and Guides for Sewingdlachines; and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being hadl to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view lof a part of a sewing-machine with my improvements attached. Fig. 2 is a top view ofthe horizontal guide and right-angle point and index-plate for regulating and adjusting the width of the tucks. Fig. 2b is a side View of the horizontal guide and right-angle point' and index-plate for regulating and adjusting the Vwidth of the tucks. Fig. 3l is a front view of the vertical and adjustable guide and presser-foot combined in position. Fig. is a view of the vertical and adjustable guide and presser-foot combined in an inverted position.

The Object of this improvement is to furnish a cheap and simple device for forming and sewing tucks at the one and same operation, and also to insure a perfect uniformity in parallel lines in tucks and spaces between tucks in an expeditious manner.` In its operation it folds the fabric in form for a tuck, regulates the tension of the fabric while' being sewed, and maintains its uniformity in parallel lines, and sews the seam all at the oneand the same operation. F

This improvement is applicable to all sewing-machines. It serves as a cloth-presser in sewing the tucks, and also asan adjustable guide in adjusting them to and from the needle laterally to regulate the width of the tucks, and also the width of spaces between tucks.

In reference to the drawing, A represents the presser-foot, the upper end of which is hollow, and can be slipped. onto any cloth-presser bar of a sewing-machine. This presser-foot has a lateral arm or bar, A', projecting out from it and bearing an index-plate. B represents the head of the temper-screw, which serves to regulate and adj ust the vertical guides laterally with reference to the presserfoot. C and D represent the vertical adjustable guides engaged with the temper-screw. E

represents the opening 'between the verticalv guides. F represents two set-screwsused to open and close the opening between the vertical guides. S represents "a spring to assist in spreading apart the vertical guides when the screws are operated for that purpose. H represents a set-screw used to secure the presser-foot and vertical guides to the cloth-presser bar of a sewing-machine. I represents the end of the horizontal guide K turned at right angles from its body K; and parallel with the side ofthe presser-foot and vertical guides. K represents the body of the horizontal guide, which is shaped asa bow or loop, and works in a d ovetail on the index-plate- L, and engages v with the temper-screw which is combined with the index-plate. N represents' a slot in the shank of the index-plate fora thumb-screw to secure the index-plate to the platform of a sewing-machine, as shown in Fig. 1. P represents the cloth plate or platform of a sewing-machine. O represents a part of a sewing-machine with the needle and cloth-presser bar attached. R represents the mechanism used to actuate the needle-bar of a sewing-machine.

The operation is as'follows: The index-plate L, bea-ring thel adjustable and horizontal guide K with its right-angled point I, is attached at the slot N to the cloth plate or` platform of a sewing-machine, with the point I parallel with the sideof the presser-foot and ou the same plane. The point I is drawn laterally by the temper-screw M against the side of the presserfoot, and the needle will come near the inner corner of the angle, as seen in Fig. l. The

presser-foot, from which extends a lateral bar bearing the index-plate, temper-screw B, and vertical guides G and D are all attached to the presser-bar by a set-screw, H. The vertical guides are adjusted laterally to or from the needle by the temper-screw B to regulate the width of the space between the tucks. The horizontal guide with-point I is adjusted laterally to and'from the side of the presser-foot and needle by turning the temper-screw M for enlarging or diminishing the width of the tuck.

When all of these adjustments are completed the irst tuck in the fabric is turned by hand, feeding it to the sewing-machine needle, the saine as any other plain sewing, until the seam is sewed 5V then introduce in the tuck j ust made t thin strip of metal or other material, having suiicient strength and rigidity to sustain itself n its edge, and of a width suflicient to distend ;he tuck to its full Width, and in such a shape @hat the tuck will appearas standing on its ad ge. Then roll the raw edge of the remainler of the fabric in a roll parallel with the :uck just made and distended, passing the roll` )f fabric through under the bow or loop of the iorizontal guide K. Then draw the part of :he fabric with the tuck containing the plateguide out under and then over the outside of :he right-angled point I; then under the pressar-foot, continuing on until the tuck containling the plate-guide can be introduced ed gewise in opening E of the vertical guides, as shown by dotted line in Fig. l. Then actuate the sewing-machine, feeding the fabric to the needle the same as in ordinary sewing, and when the seam has been completed draw out the thin plate-guide and introduce it in the tuck last made, drawing the fabric along until the plate-guide can be introduced edgewise again in the opening of the vertical guides, and thus continuously until all the tucks are completed.

In operation the right-angled point I is in the tuck being formed and sewed, and the fabric is stretched over and travels parallel with the point I, and the thin plate-guide rests in a tuck already made, stands edgewise in the vertical guide-openin g E, and travels parallel', at all times, with the right-angled point I, thus giving two fixed parallel guides in combination with the needle of a sewing-machine, which results in the mostperfect uniformity in parallel lines, in tucks, and in spaces between tucks.

The plate-guides, of thin metal strips or of other material, are similar in thickness to the mainspring of a common Watch, and the width of the plate will be of any suitable width to suit the tucks already made.

To increase the width of tucks, turn the telnper-screw M, which will actuate the horizontal guide on the index-plate, and the right-an gled point I will be moved laterally from the presser-foot and needle until the desired width is attained, which can be noted on the indexplate; and the distance from the needle to the outer edge of the right-angled point I will be the width of the tuck.

To diminish the width of tucks, a reverse operation of the temper-screw M gives the desired result.

To increase the width of space between tucks, turn the temper-screw B, which is engaged with and will actu ate the vertical guides laterally from the needle and presser-foot; and when the desired width has been attained it can be noted by the index on the lateral bar from the presser-foot, and the distance from the vertical guide-opening E to the needle of the sewing-machine will be the width of the space between tucks.

The vertical guide-opening E can be closed orA opened to suit any desired thickness of fabric by turning the screw F for that purpose.

Having fully stated the purposes and objects ot' my improvement, its mode of construction and operation, so that others can construct and operate the same, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The plate L and adjustable guide-K with its right-angled point I, when combined with thevertical and adjustable guides C D secured to the presser, and adapted to receive a tuck already made and distended by means of a metallic or other strip, all being constructed and operating substantially as described.

2. The presser-foot A, bearing the laterallyprojecting bar A', index-plate, and temperscrew B, in combination with the vertical and adjustable guides C and D, all constructed and arranged to operate as set forth.

EUGENE BOUILLON.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL BROCK, J. W. GURLEY. 

